🌸Japan Events Guide

⛩️ Sommer

Japans Sommerfeste

Matsuri & Bon Odori — Juli & August

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Gion Matsuri
Sehr voll
Kansai

Gion Matsuri

Kyoto, Kyoto

⛩️All of July (main parade July 17 & 24)

Japan's most famous festival, dating back to 869 AD. Massive decorated floats (yamaboko) parade through Kyoto's streets. The Yoiyama evenings are magical with paper lanterns.

🚃 Karasuma-Oike Station (Kyoto Municipal Subway)

Awa Odori
Sehr voll
Shikoku

Awa Odori

Tokushima, Tokushima

⛩️August 12–15

Japan's largest dance festival with 100,000+ dancers filling the streets of Tokushima. The infectious rhythm and colorful yukata make it one of Japan's most joyful events.

🚃 Tokushima Station (JR Tokushima Line)

Aomori Nebuta Festival
Sehr voll
Tohoku

Aomori Nebuta Festival

Aomori, Aomori

⛩️August 2–7

Enormous illuminated paper lantern floats (nebuta) depicting warriors and mythological figures parade through the city at night. Spectacular and unique to the Tohoku region.

🚃 Aomori Station (JR Tohoku Shinkansen)

Tenjin Matsuri
Sehr voll
Kansai

Tenjin Matsuri

Osaka, Osaka

⛩️July 24–25

One of Japan's three great festivals. A grand procession by land and river, with 3,000 participants in traditional costumes and a fireworks show finale.

🚃 Minami-Morimachi Station (Osaka Metro Tanimachi Line)

Sendai Tanabata Festival
Mäßig voll
Tohoku

Sendai Tanabata Festival

Sendai, Miyagi

⛩️August 6–8

Japan's largest Tanabata (Star Festival) celebration. The streets are draped with thousands of colorful, elaborate paper streamers (fukinagashi) — a stunning visual spectacle.

🚃 Sendai Station (JR Tohoku Shinkansen)

Koenji Awa Odori
Mäßig voll
Kanto

Koenji Awa Odori

Tokyo, Tokyo

⛩️Last weekend of August

Tokyo's biggest summer dance festival inspired by the Awa Odori of Tokushima. Over 10,000 dancers fill the streets of Koenji neighborhood — a lively, accessible Tokyo experience.

🚃 Koenji Station (JR Chuo Line)

Sanja Matsuri
Sehr voll
Kanto

Sanja Matsuri

Tokyo, Tokyo

⛩️Third weekend of May

One of Tokyo's three great Shinto festivals at Asakusa's Senso-ji area. Wild street processions of 100+ portable shrines (mikoshi) carried through Asakusa over 3 days. Far more raw and energetic than the polished Kyoto festivals.

🚃 Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza / Toei Asakusa / Tobu Skytree Line)

Yamaga Toro Matsuri
Mäßig voll
Kyushu

Yamaga Toro Matsuri

Yamaga, Kumamoto

⛩️August 15–16

Kumamoto's elegant lantern festival where 1,000 women dance through the streets balancing gold paper lanterns on their heads. The visual is unlike anything else in Japan — a quiet, mesmerizing alternative to loud summer matsuri.

🚃 JR Kumamoto Station + bus (~1 hour to Yamaga)

Owara Kaze no Bon
Mäßig voll
Chubu

Owara Kaze no Bon

Toyama, Toyama

⛩️September 1–3

Toyama's haunting wind festival in the small hillside town of Yatsuo. Dancers in deep straw hats move silently through cobbled lantern-lit streets to mournful kokyu strings. Considered one of Japan's most beautiful festivals by locals — almost no foreign tourists.

🚃 JR Toyama Station + JR Takayama Line to Etchu-Yatsuo Station (~25 min)

Yosakoi Festival (Kochi)
Sehr voll
Shikoku

Yosakoi Festival (Kochi)

Kochi, Kochi

⛩️August 9–12

Modern, high-energy dance festival born in Kochi in 1954. 200+ teams (each 50–150 dancers) compete in choreographed routines using naruko clappers. Unlike traditional matsuri, costumes are colorful and modern. Shikoku's biggest summer event.

🚃 JR Kochi Station, then 10 min walk to main stages

Jidai Matsuri
Sehr voll
Kansai

Jidai Matsuri

Kyoto, Kyoto

⛩️October 22

One of Kyoto's three great festivals. A 2km procession of ~2,000 costumed participants recreates 1,200 years of Japanese history, moving from Kyoto Imperial Palace to Heian Shrine.

🚃 Marutamachi Station (Karasuma Subway) for start; Higashiyama Station for arrival

Kurama Fire Festival
Sehr voll
Kansai

Kurama Fire Festival

Kyoto (Kurama), Kyoto

⛩️October 22 (evening)

One of Kyoto's most dramatic festivals. Villagers carry massive torches — some 5m tall — through the mountain village of Kurama, north of Kyoto. Same night as Jidai Matsuri.

🚃 Kurama Station (Eizan Railway from Demachiyanagi) — expect crowded return trains after event

Nagasaki Kunchi
Mäßig voll
Kyushu

Nagasaki Kunchi

Nagasaki, Nagasaki

⛩️October 7–9

A 400-year-old festival at Suwa Shrine mixing Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch influences from Nagasaki's trading past. Dragon dances, decorated floats, and neighborhood performances that rotate every 7 years.

🚃 Suwa Jinja tram stop (Nagasaki Electric Tramway)

Karatsu Kunchi
Mäßig voll
Kyushu

Karatsu Kunchi

Karatsu, Saga

⛩️November 2–4

Karatsu's grand autumn festival with 14 elaborate, lacquered floats (hikiyama) — some over 5m tall — pulled through the town. UNESCO-registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage.

🚃 Karatsu Station (JR Karatsu Line from Fukuoka, ~80 min)

Chichibu Night Festival
Sehr voll
Kanto

Chichibu Night Festival

Chichibu, Saitama

⛩️December 2–3

Japan's top 3 float festivals, alongside Gion and Takayama. Massive lantern-decorated floats and huge winter fireworks light up the town at night. UNESCO-registered.

🚃 Seibu-Chichibu Station (Seibu Line from Ikebukuro, ~80 min)

Hatsumode at Meiji Jingu
Sehr voll
Kanto

Hatsumode at Meiji Jingu

Tokyo, Tokyo

⛩️January 1-3

Japan's largest first shrine visit — 3 million people visit Meiji Jingu during the first three days of the new year to pray for good fortune. Amazake, omikuji, and lantern-lit forest paths.

🚃 JR Harajuku Station (Yamanote Line) — 1 min walk

Setsubun at Sensoji Temple
Sehr voll
Kanto

Setsubun at Sensoji Temple

Tokyo, Tokyo

⛩️February 3

Bean-throwing ceremony marking the start of spring. Actors and celebrities scatter roasted soybeans and lucky charms from the main hall. 'Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi' — demons out, fortune in.

🚃 Asakusa Station (Ginza Line / Toei Asakusa Line) — 5 min walk

Sanno Matsuri (Hie Shrine)
Mäßig voll
Kanto

Sanno Matsuri (Hie Shrine)

Tokyo, Tokyo

⛩️Mid-June (June 7-17 main week, grand parade in odd years)

One of Edo's three great festivals along with Kanda and Fukagawa. The 300-meter grand procession from Hie Shrine winds through Akasaka, Roppongi, and Marunouchi in odd-numbered years.

🚃 Tameike-Sanno Station (Nanboku / Ginza Line) — 3 min walk

Tori-no-Ichi Rooster Market
Sehr voll
Kanto

Tori-no-Ichi Rooster Market

Tokyo, Tokyo

⛩️All Rooster days in November (typically 2-3 dates)

Businesspeople and shopkeepers flock to Otori Shrine on the Rooster days of November to buy elaborate 'kumade' (bamboo rakes decorated with lucky charms) for the coming year's prosperity.

🚃 Iriya Station (Hibiya Line) — 8 min walk to Otori Shrine

Hagoita-ichi Battledore Market (Sensoji)
Mäßig voll
Kanto

Hagoita-ichi Battledore Market (Sensoji)

Tokyo, Tokyo

⛩️December 17-19

Year-end market where 50+ vendors sell decorated hagoita paddles depicting kabuki actors and current celebrities. A 400-year Edo tradition still going strong.

🚃 Asakusa Station (Ginza Line / Toei Asakusa Line) — 5 min walk

Toka Ebisu (Kyoto Ebisu Shrine)
Sehr voll
Kansai

Toka Ebisu (Kyoto Ebisu Shrine)

Kyoto, Kyoto

⛩️January 8-12

Five-day festival praying for business prosperity at Kyoto Ebisu Shrine in Higashiyama. Bamboo branches decorated with lucky charms are sold to shopkeepers and locals.

🚃 Gion-Shijo Station (Keihan Line) — 6 min walk

Setsubun at Yoshida Shrine (Kyoto)
Sehr voll
Kansai

Setsubun at Yoshida Shrine (Kyoto)

Kyoto, Kyoto

⛩️February 2-4

One of Japan's largest Setsubun festivals, drawing 500,000 people over three days. Highlight is the 'oni yarai' ritual on the eve when demons are chased from the shrine grounds with fire and drums.

🚃 Bus 206 from Kyoto Station to Kyodai-Seimon-mae — 5 min walk

Aoi Matsuri (Kyoto)
Sehr voll
Kansai

Aoi Matsuri (Kyoto)

Kyoto, Kyoto

⛩️May 15

One of Kyoto's three great festivals, dating to the 6th century. A 500-strong Heian-era procession in imperial court dress walks 8 km from the Imperial Palace to Kamigamo Shrine through the streets.

🚃 Imadegawa Station (Karasuma Line) for start; Kamigamo Shrine by bus

Zuiki Matsuri (Kitano Tenmangu)
Mäßig voll
Kansai

Zuiki Matsuri (Kitano Tenmangu)

Kyoto, Kyoto

⛩️October 1-5

Autumn harvest festival at Kitano Tenmangu where the mikoshi shrine is decorated entirely with seasonal vegetables including the namesake 'zuiki' (taro stems). A rare vegetable-themed festival with 1,000-year roots.

🚃 Kitano-Tenmangu-mae bus stop (from Kyoto Station, bus 50 or 101)

Toka Ebisu (Imamiya Ebisu, Osaka)
Sehr voll
Kansai

Toka Ebisu (Imamiya Ebisu, Osaka)

Osaka, Osaka

⛩️January 9-11

Japan's largest Ebisu festival — 1 million people visit Imamiya Ebisu Shrine over three days to pray for business prosperity and receive fukusasa (lucky bamboo) blessings from ceremonial maidens.

🚃 Imamiya-Ebisu Station (Nankai Koya Line) — 1 min walk

Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri
Sehr voll
Kansai

Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri

Kishiwada, Osaka, Osaka

⛩️September 14-15 (main), plus early October

One of Japan's most dangerous festivals — 4-ton wooden 'danjiri' floats are pulled through Kishiwada streets at full speed while acrobats stand on top. Serious accidents happen most years. Utterly thrilling to watch.

🚃 Kishiwada Station (Nankai Line from Namba, 25 min)

YOSAKOI Soran Festival (Sapporo)
Sehr voll
Hokkaido

YOSAKOI Soran Festival (Sapporo)

Sapporo, Hokkaido

⛩️Early June (Wednesday-Sunday of the second week)

Modern dance festival that draws 27,000 dancers in 270+ teams from around Japan to Sapporo's Odori Park. Choreography combines traditional 'naruko' clappers with pop, rock, and street dance.

🚃 Odori Station (subway) — main venue at Odori Park

Sapporo Autumn Fest
Sehr voll
Hokkaido

Sapporo Autumn Fest

Sapporo, Hokkaido

⛩️Early to late September (about 3 weeks)

Hokkaido's biggest food festival takes over Odori Park for three weeks. 200+ vendors serve Hokkaido specialties: uni, crab, jingisukan, corn, cheese, ramen, sake — all in one place.

🚃 Odori Station (subway) — Odori Park

Hakata Gion Yamakasa (Fukuoka)
Sehr voll
Kyushu

Hakata Gion Yamakasa (Fukuoka)

Fukuoka, Fukuoka

⛩️July 1-15 (climactic Oiyama race July 15, 4:59 AM)

770-year-old race festival culminating in a pre-dawn 5 km sprint on July 15 where seven teams carry 1-ton floats through Hakata streets. UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

🚃 Gion Station (Kuko Line subway) — 3 min walk to Kushida Shrine

Nagoya Matsuri
Sehr voll
Chubu

Nagoya Matsuri

Nagoya, Aichi

⛩️Mid-October (Saturday-Sunday of the second or third weekend)

The city's flagship festival featuring a grand procession portraying the three Owari-Aichi warriors — Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, and Ieyasu — with 700+ costumed performers marching through central Nagoya.

🚃 Sakae or Yaba-cho Station (Higashiyama / Meijo Line)

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony
Sehr voll
Chugoku

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony

Hiroshima, Hiroshima

⛩️August 6

Solemn annual ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park marking the atomic bombing (1945). Bell rings at 8:15 AM. Evening lantern-floating ceremony on the Motoyasu River — 10,000 lanterns for the dead.

🚃 Genbaku Dome-mae streetcar stop — Peace Memorial Park

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